The vampire court did not forgive easily.
Selena learned that very quickly.
Word of the previous day's confrontation had spread across the palace like wildfire. Servants whispered her name in the corridors. Guards watched her carefully. Noble families exchanged quiet conversations behind closed doors.
The wolf Luna had defeated a royal guard.
In front of the entire court.
That alone was enough to anger many of the vampire houses.
But what truly offended them was something far worse.
She had shown no fear.
Selena walked through the palace garden the next afternoon, enjoying the rare sunlight that filtered through the dark clouds above the kingdom.
The vampire capital rarely saw bright days, but when it did, the palace gardens became one of the few peaceful places in the entire city.
Tall black roses grew along the stone paths, their petals darker than midnight.
Selena knelt beside one of the flowerbeds and studied them.
"Black roses," she murmured.
"Dramatic."
"Everything in this kingdom is dramatic."
A familiar voice spoke behind her.
Selena didn't turn.
"You're stalking me again, Adrian."
Prince Adrian stepped into the garden, his dark coat shifting slightly in the wind.
"I was informed you came here."
"By the spies you definitely don't have?"
Adrian ignored the sarcasm.
"You shouldn't wander the palace alone."
Selena stood and brushed the dirt from her hands.
"I'm a werewolf."
"Yes."
"Not a fragile flower."
"I'm aware."
She crossed her arms.
"Then why the concern?"
Adrian studied her calmly.
"Because the nobles are already angry."
Selena smirked.
"They were angry the moment I walked into their court."
"That was before you humiliated one of their warriors."
"He attacked me."
"That doesn't matter to them."
Selena shrugged.
"Sounds like their problem."
Adrian was about to respond—
But footsteps interrupted them.
Three vampire nobles approached from the stone pathway leading deeper into the garden.
Selena immediately recognized one of them.
Lady Seraphine.
She was tall and elegant, with long dark hair and a perfectly composed expression.
But her crimson eyes were cold.
Selena had noticed her watching from the court the previous day.
Watching with clear hatred.
Lady Seraphine stopped several steps away.
"My prince."
She bowed gracefully toward Adrian.
Adrian nodded slightly.
"Lady Seraphine."
Her gaze shifted toward Selena.
"And the… Luna."
The way she said the word made it sound like an insult.
Selena raised an eyebrow.
"You can just say Selena."
Seraphine ignored her.
"My prince, the court was quite… entertained yesterday."
Selena smirked.
"I aim to please."
Seraphine's lips curved into a thin smile.
"Yes."
"Entertaining."
Her eyes moved slowly over Selena's simple clothing.
"You certainly fight well."
Selena tilted her head.
"Thank you."
"But fighting is not the same as ruling."
Selena saw where this was going.
"Oh?"
Seraphine stepped closer.
"The vampire court is built on centuries of tradition."
"We value intelligence, strategy, diplomacy."
Selena nodded slowly.
"And?"
Seraphine's voice grew sharper.
"And yet our prince has chosen a wolf who solves problems with her fists."
Selena sighed.
"You're really trying this right now?"
Seraphine ignored the question.
"My prince deserves a queen who understands politics."
Selena laughed.
"Ah."
"There it is."
Adrian watched the conversation quietly.
Seraphine continued smoothly.
"Someone refined."
"Someone educated."
"Someone worthy of the throne."
Selena smiled slowly.
"You mean you."
Seraphine didn't deny it.
"I would have been a more suitable match."
The other nobles behind her nodded.
Selena clapped slowly.
"Wow."
"That was bold."
Seraphine's eyes flashed.
"You think this is amusing?"
"Yes."
Selena stepped forward.
"You just insulted your prince's wife in front of him."
"And you're surprised I find that funny?"
Seraphine lifted her chin.
"You are not worthy of that title."
Selena leaned closer slightly.
"And you are?"
"I was raised in the royal court."
"I understand vampire politics."
"I know how to lead."
Selena nodded thoughtfully.
"That's great."
Seraphine frowned.
"You mock me."
"No."
Selena gestured toward Adrian.
"I'm just curious."
Seraphine blinked.
"About what?"
Selena's smile widened.
"If you're so perfect…"
"Why didn't he marry you?"
The silence that followed was brutal.
Seraphine's face stiffened.
The nobles behind her looked suddenly uncomfortable.
Selena turned toward Adrian.
"Was she not an option?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I had many options."
Selena turned back to Seraphine.
"And yet he chose the wolf."
Seraphine's expression hardened.
"You were chosen by prophecy."
Selena shrugged.
"Still chosen."
A few servants nearby quickly turned away to hide their smiles.
Seraphine's voice became colder.
"You misunderstand the situation."
"Oh?"
"The nobles will never accept you."
Selena's eyes flashed silver.
"They don't have to."
Seraphine laughed softly.
"You think brute strength will keep you safe?"
"No."
Selena stepped closer.
"I think intelligence will."
Seraphine's smile faded.
"You claim intelligence?"
Selena nodded.
"Let's test that."
The nobles leaned forward slightly.
Seraphine crossed her arms.
"Very well."
Selena gestured toward the palace behind them.
"You said the court values strategy."
"Yes."
"And diplomacy."
"Yes."
"And intelligence."
"Correct."
Selena smiled.
"Then here's my question."
Seraphine waited.
"If someone was secretly trying to start a war between wolves and vampires…"
The garden suddenly felt very quiet.
Selena continued calmly.
"And they had already infiltrated the vampire kingdom…"
Seraphine's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What is your point?"
Selena's voice remained steady.
"Would insulting the Luna of the wolf packs help prevent that war?"
Seraphine froze.
The nobles behind her looked confused.
Selena leaned slightly closer.
"Or would it push the wolves further away from your kingdom?"
The realization spread slowly across the small group.
Seraphine said nothing.
Selena straightened.
"Exactly."
She folded her arms.
"You claim to understand politics."
"But if you were actually good at it…"
Her smile returned.
"You would know that insulting me weakens your own kingdom."
Seraphine's face had gone completely pale.
Adrian watched the entire exchange with quiet interest.
Selena turned toward him.
"Did I pass the diplomacy test?"
Adrian's lips curved faintly.
"Impressively."
Seraphine clenched her fists.
Selena gave her one final smile.
"Next time you try to humiliate someone…"
"Make sure they're actually stupid."
Then she walked past the stunned nobles toward the palace doors.
Adrian followed a moment later.
Behind them, Lady Seraphine stood frozen with humiliation.
The nobles around her whispered quietly.
For the first time since arriving in the vampire kingdom…
The court had witnessed something unexpected.
The wolf Luna was not just strong.
She was dangerous.
And far smarter than anyone had predicted.